Apparatus for cultivating cotton and controlling noxious weeds



0 1953 G. L. WHITE 2,663,973

APPARATUS FOR CULTIVATING COTTON AND CONTROLLING NOXIOUS WEEDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 13, I950 Inventor Llewellyn While Dec. 29, 1953 wHlTE 2,663,973

APPARATUS FOR CULTIVATING COTTON AND CONTROLLING NOXIOUS WEEDS v Filed Oct. 13, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 p 6%? f 1 v In ventor 6oa'fn9y Llewellyn While M mag fiM Dec. 29, 1953 G. L. WHITE APPARATUS FOR CULTIVATING COTTON AND CONTROLLING NOXIOUS WEEDS Filed Oct. 13, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 4

75 Y 72 6 for? 7 a5 Y Inventor ,1 @J Y //A" 78 Godfrey Llewellyn Will/8 28 By 24mm WWW W Dec. 29, 1953 G. L. WHITE 2,663,973

APPARATUS FOR CULTIVATING COTTON AND CONTROLLING NOXIOUS WEEDS Filed Oct. 13, 1950 5 ShQGGS ShGGt 4 Fig. .9

1K I 51? I F I g. /0 [66 I64 I60 BI I74 Inventor /5a hife {L WW 5 Attorneys Dec. 29, 1953 2,663,973

G.lm VVHITE APPARATUS FOR CULTIVATING COTTON AND CONTROLLING NOXIOUS WEEDS Filed OCt. 13, 1950 O 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inzvntor Godfrey Llewellyn WIN 7e Patented Dec. 29, 1953 APPARATUS FOR CULTIVATING COTTON 'A'ND CONTROLLING NOXIOUS WEEDS Godfrey Llewellyn White, Osceola, Ark.

Application October 13, 1950, Serial No. 189,987 12 Claims. (cilia-1) '1 This invention relates to an apparatus for cultivatingcotton and simultaneously controlling noxious weeds.

Itis well known in the art that as soon as the cottonseeds are planted in rows, weeds begin to appear in and between the rows which not only grow rapidly and make it difiicult to prop- 7 erly cultivate the cotton but also compete with the cotton for thenutrient substances in'the soil. Therefore, the problem of controlling weeds is present with the cotton planter .from the very time the seedsare planted to the time thatthe cotton is picked It is :an important object of this invention to provide a method of controlling noxious weeds which can be applied to very young cotton aslow as one inch high which will insure sturdy growth of the cotton, reduce the competition between :the young .cotton and the surrounding weeds for soil nutrition, will permit theearly application of fertilizer to the soil, and will simplify thesubsequ'ent care and cultivation of the cotton.

lt isialso well known in the art that while it is difficult to control and eradicate proliferous annual weeds, it is far more difiicultto control and eradicate hardy perennial weeds, particularly such a perennial weed as Johnson grass which has both a proliferating type of foliage and a thick and-extensive root system. It is therefore, an importantobject of this invention to provide an apparatus and method for controlling all types of weeds including 'the'recalcitrant perennial weeds which conventionally plague growing cott'oni It is further well'k'nown in the art that very p'otent herbicides must be employed to effectively contrcland eradicate the troublesome perennial weeds and some of the more prolific annual weeds. The herbicides to be eliective must be translocated within a relatively short time to the root system of the weeds for complete and effective eradication. Because of this, the natures of the herbicides employed are generally quite toxic to the cotton plants in the row-or drill so that with the conventional methods .of applying the herbicides, many of the. cotton plants as well as the surrounding weeds are concurrently destroyed. .It is, therefore, another important object of this invention to provide .an apparatus and method which will very effectively control all types of weeds and which will simultaneously shield the more sensitive portions of the cotton plants in the rows so that the destruction of the cottonplants will be materially reduced or en'- tireiy eliminated.

It is another important object of this invention to provide an apparatus and methodrfor controlling weeds in cotton which will effect a marked economy in the quantity of herbicides employed since the method contemplates the simultaneous spraying of weeds in and immediately adjacent the rows or drills and thetplow ing up of the weeds between the rows or drills.

The method contemplates not only the plowing of the middles and the shielding of thesensitive portions of the cottonplants butalso the leveling of a predetermined area on both sides assemble from a prime mover, and extremely .ef-

fective for its intended purpose.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide apparatus or thecharacter described which can be .:operated with a minimum of manipulative skill, whichcan be operated with fair speeds- Without injuringithe cotton plants 'inthe rows, which is adjustable to the growing heights of the cottonplants, and which incorporates herbicidespraying means which is both vertically and angularly adjustable to accommodate the growing cotton plants.

These, together with "various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the-device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying draw ings, wherein:

Figure .1 is a side .elevational view of the d6:- vice shownassembled upon a prime mover;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on=the plane ofsecti'on line 3-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially ion'the plane of section line 4-4 of ,Figure'z Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on :the plane of section line 55 of'Figurel'2; I

Figure 6 is "a sectional view taken substantially on the plane ofsection line 6 6 of Figure -5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modification of a detail of the invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of another modification of a detail of the invention;

Figure 9 is a side elevational view, parts being broken away to show details of the construction, of another modification of a detail of the inven tion;

Figure 10 is a rear elevational view of the invention shown in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the leveling mechanism employed in the device shown in Figures 9 and 10; and

Figures 12 to 15 are elevational diagrammatic views illustrating the sequential steps employed in carrying out the method. 3

Before going into the details of construction of the apparatus and th variou modifications" thereof, a detailed explanation of the method will be described.

conventionally, cotton is planted in rows which are 36", 38" and 40" apart. The area between the rows is known as the middles and the present method comprises the simultaneous'plowing of the middles, the shielding of the sensitive portions of the cotton plants such as the buds and foliage, the controlled spraying of herbicides in the rows on the bottommost portions of the stems of the cotton plants and the leveling of a predetermined area on both sides of the cotton row. The area to be leveled on both sides of the rows should be preferably 5" to 6". However, when the middles are plowed clods of dirt and soil containing a multitude of weed seeds will be thrown up against the rows of cotton or into the cotton'drills which will caus the germination and growth of weeds again within the 5" to 6 area on both sides of the cotton. Therefore, the leveling operation should also include a shielding or bafiiing operation which would prevent a substantial portion of the plowed clods of dirt and soil from being thrown into the cotton drills.-

ton drills or else the mounds or ridges will prevent the spray from falling on the bottommost portions of the stems of the cotton and immediately beneath the stems. The shielding step of the present process, therefore, not onl protects the sensitive portions of the cotton plants but also prevents the deposition of a multitude of weed seeds in the cotton drills and since this shielding is carried on simultaneously with a leveling of a 5" to 6" area on both sides of the cotton drill, subsequent spraying of the herbicides can be effectively deposited upon the bottommost portions of the cotton stems. It has been found from practice that it takes an average of about three sprayings per season to effectively control the noxious weeds by the present method. The method effectively eradicates such perennial weeds as Johnson grass, nut grass and the like and since the method may be applied to young cotton as short as one inch high, it obviously eifects a marked economy in time, labor, spraying fluid or herbicides, and entirely eliminates the conventional hand hoeing.

-To efiectively spray cotton with a herbicide which will kill the perennial weeds as well a the annual weeds, the cotton row or drill must be sprayed carefully under a particular spray pattern. A herbicide to be effective in the eradication of perennial weeds which have extensive foliage and thick and extensive root systems must be very potent and capable of being translocated to the root system of the weeds. Such a herbicide, because of its toxicity, will also destroy the cotton plants if it is deposited upon the cotton buds and the leaves thereof. While many herbicides may be employed with the present method, a particular herbicide comprising pentachlorophenol, n-butyl alcohol, carbon tetrachloride, and petroleum hydrocarbons has beenfound particularly effective.

Whatever the nature of the toxic herbicide employed, the same must be sprayed under a particular spray pattern so that the herbicide strikes the bottommost portions of the cotton stems containing the cutin. The spray pattern as shown clearly in Figures 12 to 15, and which will be described in detail later, is fan-shaped and overlaps partially on a horizontal plane as close to the ground above the drill as possible. If the overlapping is too great at the drill, too much herbicide will get on the cotton stems above the cutin and eventually injure and destroy the cotton plants. The pattern is vertically and angularly adjustable to conform with the growth of the cotton. When the cotton is approximately a month old and grows to a height of 4 to 8", a bark forms on the stem which splits. Therefore, the spray pattern must be changed to avoid spraying onto the split bark which would form a stricture around the stem. When this occurs the spray penetrates the bark or cortex and pericycle, enters the conducting tissue extending from the root cap to the terminal bud, and even penetrates the pith with the result that the cotton plant bends over at the stricture and dies off. Hence, the spray pattern must be changed from horizontal or lateral depositions to a somewhat vertical deposition. Th pattern is such that it is still fan-shaped and overlapping at the drill but is inclined downwardly with the overlapping at the drill beneath the bark or cortex and pericycle.

Inasmuch as the spraying of cotton with the above method can be carried out with relatively young cotton and when the weeds themselves are young, it is possible to add fertilizer to the soil immediately after the first spraying which would cause the cotton plant to grow preferentially higher and in a shorter time than any of the weeds which may have remained uneradicated. Without the first spraying of young cotton, an immediate application of fertilizer would cause the weeds and cotton to grow rapidly and simultaneously making the subsequent eradication of full grown weeds very difiicult.

The apparatus and some further details of the method will be described hereinafter in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Indicated generally at It] is a suitable prime mover,

. such as a Ford-Ferguson tractor, to which is seby suitable link rods 24 to the linkage I8 securing.

the cultivator frame 62 so that actuation of the raising and lowering mechanism 20 will simultaneously raise and lower the cultivator :frame .112 and the forward transverse bar .22. securediby appropriate :bolts and nuts to the cultivator frame bars and I-Biand rspaced'transversely of theprime mover are fa'jpluralityof 'plowshares .26 carryingconventional plows :2-8 which arelongitudinally staggered asnshown clearly in Figure Secured to the ends :otthe forward hard! between the front wheels and the prime irnover chassis 32 is a pair or adjustable sspray shoes shown in detail in iFigurresfa and fi and-fully described in applicant's co-pending application, Serial No. 97,429,.filed-Junei6, 1949., :entitledfitttachment for .Controlling'Weeds in Cotton, now Patent Number 2,530,145. Briefly, this spray shoe comprises an .arcua'te rod 34 suitably clamped to the transverse sbar fiend adjustahh received in a collar :35 and retainedtherein by a suitable set screw 38. A short rod is secured inthe collar 36 by 'a set screw 42 which short-rod includes a vertically extending collar .44 receiv ing .a vertical rod 46 which is 'secured as by;weld ing at its bottom end to an angle member 48. Terminally pivoted to the ends ot the :angle member 48 and to a shoe 5!) are parallel-acting links 52. The links are parallel-acting to main- .the shoe 59 with its ,a-rcuate forward end 5 3 at all .times parallel to the; prime mover chassis throughout the forward movement of the prime mover. A diagonal compression spring .56 is secured between the links 52 to assist returning the shoeSll to its position parallel to the angle member 48when the shoe rides 'over a mound.

Secured to the rear end of each shoe 58 is a vertically .extendingthreaded rod 58 which receives an apertured lug 69 held in position thereon by asuitable lock nut 62. The apertured lugsfifl carries'a collar 64 which receives a spray nozzle 56 which may be 'angularly adjusted in the collar 64 by a suitable set screw and the spray nozzle is connected by "suitable valved conduits- 58 to a reservoir Ill filledwitha suitable weed killer, the reservoir It being appropriately secured upon the prime mover, as shown'clearly inFigure 1. It should be noted that at the .forward end of the prime mover Ill, there are two pairs of spray shoes which straddle the rows of cotton 72 so that the cotton plants in the row will be sprayed onboth sides.

Aslclearly illustrated in Figures 1 tot, a shielding and leveling device 74 is employed in conjunction with the verticaland angularly adjustable sprays carried at the forward end of the prime mover. This device "comprises aplurality of arcuate shielding plates l6 disposed between the plows and adapted to loosely straddle or embrace a plurality of cotton plants inthe rows I2, as shown clearly in the drawings. Each shield has an arcuate portion at its forward edge 18 to preventinjmy to the cottonplants and also to prevent the shield from sticking into the'soil as the shield is pulled along by the primemover. A suitable counterweight so is secured as by welding to the rear upper edge of the shield to exert a downward force'on the shield at the rear portion thereof.

The arcuate shielding plates M are suspended by-means of parallel-acting links to the cultivator frame I2 in the following manner, Pivoted to lugs 84 at the top surface of the shield 14 is a pair of spaced parallel links 86 and 88. It should be noted that two longitudinally spaced lugs 84 are provided so that, in sheet, there are two'pairs of spaced'bars' 86 and 88 pivoted to the lugs substantially-adjacent the rearand forward 6 ends io'iztheshieldingplate It. Thenpper'ends of "thelinks 8B and 88 are apertured :as at fiilto adjustably receive pivot pins 92 which pivotally secure the ends of a horizontally extending bar 94 that is twisted intermediate its "ends-as at 9 8.. Secured .to the twisted end 95 of the bar 94 is an L-shaped brac'keteS which is in turn secured to another L--:shaped ibracket .iilil. The bracket IN is secured by a suitable .headed ,bolt andnu-t 182.130 the angle member wi l of the frame 4.2. Thus it will beseen that theshield H is-connected to'the cultivator frame 12 byparalle1=acting links in'such .a mannerthat when theshield rides over mounds, the entire shield will pivotupw-ardly' and remain substantially parallel "to the ground level at all times throughout the :movement of the prime mover.

.Secured as by welding to both sides preach shield 3-4 adjacent'the bottom free edges thereof and preferably adjaoentthe rear edge of the shield is a vertically extending leveling plate I'M, one portion use of which is secured to-the side of the shield and oneportion I08 of which is-inclinedrearwardly and outwardlyfrom the shield. Thus it will be seen that each shieldincludes vertically extending, .rearwardly divergent plates which .serve to level theplowed soil a predetermined distance on .both .sides of the cotton row -12.

In practical operation, the actuation of the raising and lowering means 20 will lower the plows, the spray shoes .5iland the shields .1150 that the shields M will loosely embrace and straddlethe rows E2 of cotton, as shown clearlyin Eigu-re2. Uponrorwa-rd movementof the-prime mover IE), the plows will digup thersoilbetween adjacent rows of COttOIL'aIl. area-known as the fmi-dclles, while th-eshields I4 will prevent clods and dirt dug up by the plows from being thrown into the cotton drills and against the-cotton-rows 12. At the same time, the rearwardly divergent plates I08 will level .apredetermined-area, preherably 55', on both sides of the cotton row. .In the modification just described, the spray shoes and adjustable spray. nozzles 56 are carried at the forward end of theprimemover and accordingly, the spraying is done in advance of the plowing-shielding and leveling operation. .It will-be understood, however, that the spraying operation-canbe carriedonto the rear of theshields, if desired.

In the modification shown in Figure 7, the shield includes a pair of spaced, parallel, elongated vertically extending plates H9 and II! which have arcuate forwardportions H4. The-plates (land I I-2 .are adapted to straddle a plurality of cotton plants in the rows l2 and are secured together at :their top edges by'arcuate bars or ties H 6 and llfi which arearched high enough to substantially clear the topsof the cotton plants. The ties are provided withaperturedlugs l zfl and 1.22,.toeach of which is pivoted a pair of vertically extending parallel links I22 and I24. Adjacent the upper edges of the links apertures I26 are provided for adjustably receiving pivot pins I28 which pivotally receive the ends of a horizontally-extending bar It!) to the medial twisted "portion of which is secured an :L-shaped bracket "I32. Secured to the bracket I32is another L-shaped bracket 434 which is adapted'tobe secured to one I of the transverse bars M or the cultivatorrframe Securedas by welding adjacent the bottom edge and approximate the rear edge of .both' plates Ill) and H2 is a pair of vertically extendingileveling plates i 35 whichhave rearwardly diverging portions I38. The primary distinction between this shielding and leveling device and the shielding and leveling device 14 described previously is that the device illustrated in Figure 7 is not a continuous arcuate shield but made up rather of relatively short plates H and H2 secured together by arcuate ties H6 and H8 which straddle the cotton plants. Furthermore, the shielding and leveling device illustrated in Figure 7 does not include a weight 80 but rather an elongated compression spring I40 which extends diagonally between the links I22, I24 on both ends of the shield, the compression spring being secured at one end to the lowermost portion of the link I24 and secured at its other end to the other link I24 adjacent its upper end. Thus the present shielding and leveling device includes the parallel-acting links to keep the shields substantially level to the ground at all times and the compression spring I40 tends to resiliently retain the shield adjacent the soil. This shield is also secured to the cultivator frame between the plows and is used in conjunction with the adjustable spray heads which are carried at the forward portion of the prime mover.

The modification shown in Figure 8 is similar to that shown in Figure '7 except that relatively high, spaced parallel, elongated vertical plates I42 and I44 are provided which are adapted to straddle a plurality of cotton plants in a row and are secured together by horizontally extending ties I46 and I48 across their top edges. Secured as by welding to the outer surfaces of the plates I42 and I44 adjacent the bottom rear edges thereof are vertically extending, angulated leveling plates I50, which leveling plates include rearwardly divergent portions I52. The resiliently suspended parallel-actin links I54 employed for securing the high plates I42 and I44 to the cultivator frame I2 are identical with the construction shown in Figure 7 and hereinabove described. The major distinction between the shieldingand leveling device of Figure 8 over that shown in Figure '1 is that the plates I42 and I44 are relatively high, approximately to 12" high, as opposed to the plates III! and H2 which are approximately 5" to 6 high. The shielding of the cotton plants in the row with the device shown in Figure 7 from the clods of dirt upturned by the plows is somewhat better than the shielding obtained with the relatively short plates I I0 and I I2.

In the modification shown in Figures 9 to 11, a device is shown which simultaneously includes the shield, the leveling plates, the parallel-acting suspension mechanism, and the adjustable sprays. A portion of the raising and lowering linkage is shown at I55 and is operatively attached to a pair of longitudinally extendin cultivator bars I58 to which are clamped as at I60 the shares of a pair of conventional plows I62. Secured between the cultivator bars I58 is a transversely extending U- shaped frame I64, the Web portion of which is of angle construction as at I66.

Positioned between the plows is an elongated shield I68 including a pair of spaced parallel elongated vertically extending plates I68A, I68B, which are adapted to straddle and loosely embracea plurality of cotton plants 12 in the row and secured by arcuate ties 2 I6 and 2 I8 which are upwardly arched to substantially clear the tops of the cotton plants, the forward edges of the shields I68 being provided with laterally extending arcuated shoes I10. The elongated arcuate shield I68 is secured by parallel-acting links to the frame portion I66. If desired shield I68 may include an upwardly arched, substantially arcu-' ate plate portion embraced by ties 2I6', 2I8 and secured to the upper edges of plates I68A, I68B. A pair of vertically extending links I12 and I14 are provided which are spaced parallel to each other and which are pivoted as at I16 to a pair of apertured ears I18 secured upon the upper top surface of the shield as to the proximate portions of the ties 2I6, 2I8 and preferably, as previously described, a spring I40 is provided extending diagonally from adjacent the upper end of the forward links to the lower portion of the rearward links. At their upper edges, each pair of spaced links I12 and I14 straddle the ends of a horizontally extending bar I and are pivoted to the ends as at I82. The bar I80 is welded or riveted to the frame member I 65.

In this form of the invention the leveling device, as shown clearly in Figure 11, comprises a pair of horizontally extending V-shaped plates I84 which are welded to the bottom rear edges of both sides of the arcuate shield I68. The plates I84, instead of being welded, may be secured to the sides of the shield I68 in another manner. The V-shaped plates include vertical rims I86 which have a rearwardly diverging portion I88 and a horizontal portion I90 for receiving suitable bolts and closure nuts I92. Welded to the horizontal V-shaped plates I84 adjacent their rear edge are vertically extending rods I94 for a purpose soon to appear.

Spray nozzles I95 are provided having collars I98 which are slidably received upon the rods I94 and secured in adjusted vertical position on the rods I94 by means of suitable set screws (not shown). The spray nozzles also include collars 288 for retaining the nozzles in adjusted angular position on the rods I94. The spray nozzles are connected by suitable conduits 202 to a reservoir retaining a suitable herbicide, it being understood that the reservoir will be secured by any suitable means upon the prime mover. Thus it will be seen that in this form of the invention, the shielding, leveling, plowing, and spraying takes place virtually simultaneously with the spray nozzles in the rear of the plows and the leveling plates. When this device is pulled by the prime mover across the field, the plows I62 dig up the weeds in the middles and throw clods of dirt against the shield I68 which prevents the clods of dirt from entering th cotton drill. At the same time, the levelers I84 level a predetermined area, approximately 5", on both sides of the cotton drill and as the leveling takes place, the weed killer is sprayed through the adjustable spray nozzles I96 into the drill and upon the bottommost portions of the stems of the cotton plants.

As stated earlier, for the proper eradication of annual weeds in cotton cultivation, a potent weed killer must be employed which is very often toxic to the cotton plants if it impinges upon the buds or foliage of the cotton plants. Therefore, the sprays must be delivered in a particular pattern as shown clearly in Figures 12 to 15. In the first application, the spray nozzles must be adjusted at a level as close to the ground as possible and directed inwardly to produce fan-shaped sprays 204 which overlap only slightly as at 206 at the cotton drill, the spray impinging only upon the bottommost portions of the cotton stems. As the cotton grows in height, the spray nozzles are adjusted vertically and are directed downwardly, and inwardly on the cotton drill to produce a downwardly directed vertical fan-shaped spray accepta- 2&81- which overlaps slightly asat 2 l 20;10n the drill:v Inthis manner the weed killer imnin esonlycn the cotton stems. adjacent the 1 soil and doesnet; strike the cotton plant abovethe cut-in h thehudonleayes. 5

- Thus a novel method and apparatusare pro:- v-idedion completely eradicating annual: andperw. ennialweedsin cotton. which can he; appliedto veryo 'yoimg' cotton, which protect the 291 501 .irom. destruction and which prevent the gr nth, of; lo weedsin a, predetermined area on both sidcsof; the cotton drill. If; desired, the shieldin and leveling device maybe used.alsoforeradicat'on of; insects lay-attaching aspirate n z le 3: 2: o. topnf. the shield ltd, the nozzle extending. into.

' theshieldand.delivering an insectspray 2%; on

the tops of the cotton plants; as. shown clearly in Figures .lland'lil.

view of the foregoing d scriptionv taiten conjunction with the accompanying raw ngs; it .0

is helieved. that. a clear-understanding of th devioewill be. quiteapharent to those sk lled this art. A more; detailed description is accord; ingly: deemed unnecessary.

It; is. to, be understood, howev a that. ev n. though. there is. herein shown and. described. a preferredembodimen-t of; the invention the same. is susceptible to. certainchan es fully, cpmpre; hended by thespirit ofithe invention as herein descrihed andthe. scope of the apnendedclaims. 0-

Thus, for example, the present method-and alpha; ratus nay h a antedfon use. in connection with such cropsassoybeans, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, dill,- g-reenbeans, andlike crops.

Having describ edthe invention, what is claimed asneutis;

1. Incombination with atractor havinga cul.-.. tivator frameatits rear end and a meansfor adiustably raising and lowering said frame, a means for controllingweedsin cotton c m-prisev ng pl ws: secured to. sa d. frame, cptton plant shieldi g. means disp sed; betw en said pl ws means o s pend n sa d shieldin means. romv along the cotton row within sa d levelled area.

2.. Ananparatus. fo controllin weeds i cot comprising a means for shielding cotton plants in a row, means for suspending said shielding anstre a a ul iratqr t ams, carried by said shielding means for leveling a predetermined area on bothsides of the cotton row, and adjustable spray means for delivering a weed killer to theeottonrow, said spray means-being mounted on an evel m trail s sm lt n and hem directed inwardly toward said prede ermined levelled area to deliver said weed er to sa d cotton row and adiacent; levelled area "3; An apparatus for controlling weeds 1 ton comprising a means for shieldingcotton plants in a row, means for suspending said 01- re mean iiQ a cultivator ra n 'n rmed hvisaiei aielding means or e el n a n. rt me on totnsn s r in incl di nozz s, and means;- fz-orreta g each mea s ad usted p s ti n on s id ve tical; rod; 4;, App ratusion use wi h a. cultivator frame in contr l ing. weeds in: cott n, omm l e. pain Qf snhstan ially ve t "1 dispos d s l meme hats. a ined n tud n rlv ofthe apparatus and: transyerselu snasedap rt to; straddle cotton plants: in a row,- apa r ofi eve er portions. roe, snectively joined to, said shield members, said leveller portions compri in vertically disposed plate-like portions divergingutvvardlyand rear;

wardly from their respective junctions with said shieldmenrbers away from the ali lementefsaid shield members, nozzle means ad-justably-mon ed ,on'said apparatus adjacent the rearmostnore. tions of said level-lei; portions, said nozzle means being. deflected rearward-1y and inwardly toward arow of cotton, plants straddled by; said ans paratus, said levellerportions being disposedin ground. contact tolevel ground.- adjacent, a straddled.- said row in advance of. said. nozzle.

means, whereby to, remove; obstructions from the,

inward: and rearward deflection of; said nozzle means, means for supplying spray, liquidto; said nozzle means, and means forsuspendingsaid an: paratus from a cultivator frame.

5. Apparatus for use. with a cultivator frame-in controlling weeds in cotton, comprising a; pair of substantially vertically. disposed shield;mem:. bers alined longitudinally of; the apparatusand transversely spaced apart to straddle cotton plants, in a row, a pairv oflevellenportions respectively joined to saidshield members, saidlevellerp01}. tions comprising vertically, disposed plate; portions diverging outwardly from, th spective junctions with .said shield members awar from the alinement of said shieldmemloers, nozzle, means adjustably mounted on said apparatnsade jacent-the' rearmost portions of saidlleyellerpp tions, said nozzle means being deflected reare. wardly and inwardly toward a. row of; cotton plants straddled by said apparatus, saidleyeller portions being disposed in ground contact-to, level theground adjacent a straddled-saidJiQW 4 vance ofsaid nozzle means, whereby to, rerngve obstructions from the inward and rearward de flection of said nozzle means, and means for suspending said apparatus from a cultivator; frame, the latter said means including parallel acting: linlg means coupled to said shield memio iaged e em nt e a e he o" adaptsdfo pivota a achment o a u t e? frame gages ll hers, and means for suspending said apparatus from a cultivator frame.

. 7. In combination with a tractor having a cultivator frame, apparatus for controlling weeds in cotton comprising a pair of shield members arranged in substantially parallel alinement fore and aft of said tractor and transversely spaced apart to straddle cotton plants in a row, a pair of leveller portions respectively joined to said shield members rearwardly of the forward ends of said shield members, said leveller portions comprising vertically disposed plate-like portions diverging from their respective junctions with said shield members, outwardly and rearwardly away from said shield members, nozzle means adjustably mounted on said apparatus adjacent the rearmost portions of said leveller portions, said nozzle means being deflected rearwardly and inwardly toward a row of cotton plants straddled by said apparatus, said leveller portions being disposed in ground contact to level ground adjacent a straddled said row in advance of said nozzle means, and means suspending said apparatus from said cultivator frame.

8. In combination with a tractor having a cultivator frame, apparatus for controlling weeds in cotton comprising a pair of shield members arranged in substantially parallel alinement fore and aft of said tractor and transversely spaced apart to straddlecotton plants in a row, a pair of leveller portions respectively joined to said shield members, said leveller portions comprising vertically disposed plate-like portions diverging from their respective junctions with said shield members, outwardly and rearwardly away from said shield members, nozzle means edjustably mounted on said apparatus adjacent the rearmost portions of said leveller portions, said nozzle means being deflected rearwardly and inwardly toward a row of cotton plants straddled by said apparatus, said leveller portions being disposed in ground contact to level ground adjacent a straddled said row in advance of said nozzle means, whereby to remove obstructions from the inward and rearward deflection of said nozzle means, and means suspending said apparatus from said cultivator frame, said suspending means including parallel acting link means coupled to said shield members for hinged movement relative thereto and pivotally attached to said cultivator frame.

9. In combination with a tractor having a cultivator frame, apparatus for controlling weeds in cotton comprising a pair of shield members arranged in substantially parallel alinement fore and aft of said tractor and transversely spaced apart to straddle cotton plants in a row, a pair of leveller portions respectively joined to said shield members rearwardly of the forward ends of said shield members, said leveller portions comprising substantially V-shaped horizontal plates, vertically disposed plate-like portions secured to the outer edges of said V-shaped plates and diverging from their respective junctions with said shield members, outwardly and rearwardly away from said shield members, and means suspending said apparatus from said cultivator frame.

10. In combination with a tractor having a cultivator frame at its rear end and a means for adjustably raising and lowering said frame, a means for controlling weeds in cotton comprising plows secured to said frame, cotton plant shielding means disposed between said plows, means for suspending said shielding means from said frame,

means carried by said shielding means for levelling a predetermined area on both sides of the cotton row, and adjustable spray nozzles for delivering a weed killer to the cotton row, said shielding means including elongated plate means adapted to straddle and clear a plurality of cotton plants in the row, said levelling device including a pair of substantially V-shaped, flat, horizontally extending plates, each secured at one of its edges to said elongated plate means adjacent the rear lower edge thereof, said V- plate including an upstanding rim at its free edge facing one of said plows, and a vertical rod secured to said V-plate adjacent its rear end, each of said spray nozzles including a collar slidable on said rod and means for retaining said collar in adjusted position on said rod.

11. An apparatus for controlling weeds in cotton comprising a means for shielding cotton plants in a row, means for suspending said shielding means from a cultivator frame, means carried by said shielding means for levelling a predetermined area on both sides of the cotton row and adjustable spray means for delivering a weed killer to the cotton row, said shielding means including a pair of spaced parallel, vertically extending plates adapted to straddle a plurality of cotton plants in a row, ties interconnecting the upper ends of said plates, interconnected parallel acting links pivotally secured to said ties and adapted to be attached to a cultivator frame, said levelling means including a pair of substantially V-shaped, flat, horizontally extending plates, each secured at one of its edges to each of said vertical shielding plates adjacent its lower rear edge, said V-plate including an upstanding rim at its free edge opposite its secured edge and a vertical rod, said spray means including nozzles and means for retaining each nozzle in adjusted vertical position on said rod.

12. An apparatus for controlling weeds in cotton comprising a means for shielding cotton plants in a row, means for suspending said shielding means from a cultivator frame, and means carried by said shielding means for levelling a predetermined area along the cotton row, said shielding means including elongated vertical plates adapted to straddle and clear a plurality of cotton plants in a row, said levelling means including flat, horizontal V-plates, each secured to said shielding plates adjacent the lower rear end of said shielding plates.

GODFREY LLEWELLYN WHITE.

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